A Guide to the Papers of William McFee, 1916-1951
A Collection in the
Clifton Waller Barrett Library
The Special Collections Department
Accession Number 6241-b
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Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections LibraryUniversity of Virginia
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Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Processed by: Special Collections Department
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Use Restrictions
See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.
Preferred Citation
Papers of William McFee, Accession #6241-b, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
Acquisition Information
This collection was deposited on 22 Jun 1965.
Scope and Content Information
The collection contains manuscript for introduction to Innnocment Aloft .
Letters discuss the sale of his literary manuscripts; the publication of "Casuals of the Sea"; Joseph Conrad and Richard Curle's work on Conrad; royalties for "An Engineer's Notebook"; unauthorized reprints of his work; works on World War I; and his health and visits to England and Florida.
He also mentions "Command" as his favorite novel; Stefan Zeromski's "Ashes"; Joseph Henry Shorthouse's "John Inglesant"; Charles Reade's "The Cloister and the Hearth"; a Modern Language Association meeting in Chicago; Archibald Henderson; and George Bernard Shaw.
Correspondents include Lillian B. Bennett, Glen Walton Blodgett; Montgomery Evans, Crosby Gaige; Everett L. Getchell; E. J. Halter, Edward Lazare, Henry Goddard Leach, Christopher Morley, Howes Norris, Myriam Sieve, Harold Sinclair, and Paul M. Wheeler.
Contents List
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William McFee to Howes Norris, Jr. 1922 Dec 17ANS. 1 p.
Provides autograph. Describes self as "a sea-going engineer."
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W. McF. to Henry Goddard Leach 1923 Sep 15ALS. 1 p.
Is grateful for invitation to submit a topic; asks for suggestions and number of words. Is anxious to finish novel before taking on fresh work.
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W. McF. to "Dear John" 1924 Jul 30ALS. 1 p.
Has located ms. of [Letters From] an Ocean Tramp , about which John had inquired.
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W. McF. to [Crosby] Gaige 1924 Aug 7ALS. 1 p.
Replies to prospective buyer of ms. of The Ocean Tramp . Has asked his mother to send all other of his mss. from London. Invites Gaige to visit him in Westport, Conn.
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W.McF. to Editor of The World 1925 Apr 22TLS. 1 p.
W/clipping of the letter as printed in the paper.] Printed 1925 April 25 in The World .Complains that wireless operators on ships and aircraft are called "heroic" while others more worthy are not.
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W. McF. to [Lillian B.] Bennett 1928 Jan 24ALS. W/env. 2 p.
Intends to get "Max" to autograph book; plans return to England for summer.
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W. McF. to L. B. [1928 Feb 22]WednesdayALS. W/env. 3 p.
Complains about attacks of lumbago and rheumatism. May go on a cruise to England. Would like to sell his [Westport, Conn.] house.
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W. McF. to "Dear Mr. Milkman" 1928 Mar 22ANS. 1 p.
Has just returned from hospital. Sends compliments.
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W. McF. to Miss Myriam Sieve 1928 Jul 26TLS. 1 p.
Replies to letter received while in England. Discusses merits of several books on the late war and remarks on the need to resist aggressors. Would like to read Ashes by Stefan Zeromski.
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W. McF. to M. S. 1928 Sep 10ALS. 2 p.
Discusses historical novels. Mentions The Cloister and the Hearth by Charles Reade. Recommends John Inglesant by J[oseph] H[enry] Shorthouse. Gives travel plans.
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W. McF. to L. B. 1931 Jan 14ALS. W/env. 2 p.
Refuses to spend $25 for a first edition for a friend who wants only "an ordinary copy." Dislikes New York.
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W. McF. to Everett L. Getchell 1931 Feb 4TLS. 1 p.
Comments to professor at Boston University on subject of posterity. Enjoys the notice of his contemporaries.
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W. McF. to Dr. [Paul M.] Wheeler 1931 Jun 3TLS. 2 p.
Complains that his material has been reprinted so often without his receiving payment. Illustrates point with examples. Refers to the "mimeograph mind" of the book compiler.
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W. McF. to Edward Lazare of G. A. Baker and Co., Inc. 1935 Aug 16TLS. 1 p.
Describes events of past year as a reason for not writing earlier. Had gone to Florida for winter, thence to London because of family illness, death.
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W. McF. to E. L. 1935 Oct 28TLS. 1 p.
Intends to revise copy of his early book containing poem "About the Apprentices." Desires to change some of the prose; regrets previous issuance of this book.
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W. McF. to E. L. 1936 Jan 16TLS. 1 p.
Invites Lazare to visit at new house; asks about possible job opening for son of an old friend.
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W. McF. to "Dear Sir" 1940 May 23ALS. 1 p.
[Relates publishing history of Casuals of the Sea .]
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W. McF. to E. J. Halter 1945 May 9TLS. 1 p.
Says that while Casuals of the Sea has been his best selling novel, his own preference has always been Command .
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W. McF. to Montgomery Evans 1951 Oct. 2TLS. W/env. 1 p.
Refers to [Richard Henry Parnell] Curle's work on [Joseph] Conrad, and to Conrad's visit to New York. Mentions Archibald Henderson, [George Bernard] Shaw; his deafness.
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W. McF. to M. S. n. y. Oct. 12ANS. 1 p.
Greetings. Thanks for letter.
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W. McF. to L. B. n. d. TuesdayALS. W/env. 2 p.
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John Held Jr. to Crosby Gaige n. d.ANS. 1 p.
McFee can be reached in Westport.
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W. McF. to [Christopher] Morley n. d. Thursday A. M.ALS. 1 p.
Asks C. M. how to get to Chicago for meeting of the Modern Language Assn; would like a reduced fare. Complains of publishers' bad treatment of authors and rails against "free lunch counters in literature."